Plants that keep mosquitoes away includes Lemongrass, Bee Balm, Catnip, Floss Flower, Basil, Garlic, Citronella, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Marigold, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage, Scented Geranium, Pennyroyal.
It is that usual time of the year, and you are getting some visitors that you never wanted; mosquitoes! Warm weather always has its ways to bring fun, yet causing havoc at the same time. Those annoying vermin are not only a pest, but a serious threat to your health.
Mosquitoes love human blood. They are attracted to humans by the scent of our carbon dioxide emitted during breathing. The body heat we produce is another reason they are attracted to us. Our most attractive feature, however, is the scent of our sweat. The compounds emitted in our sweat are like a mosquito magnet. But these forms of attraction are not pleasant, and you need a way out, which is why you are here!
There are a lot of commercial sprays for warding off mosquitoes. However, these sprays are harmful to the environment as a whole and contaminate the air. Therefore, we are going to discuss how you would use plants to ward off mosquitoes.
These plants emit strong scents that are repulsive to mosquitoes. They work best when you place them at areas where you want to get rid of mosquitoes. Some strategic areas include the door, window, walkway, sitting room and dining room. How strong the scent would be will depend on how many plants you have and how well you place them. Some of them are more effective when you rub them directly on your skin, but not until you consult your dermatologist to be sure they are safe for your skin.
Some of these plants are best placed in a planter or a pot so that they can be moved around easily. Others are best planted outside because they can repel several types of insects and serve as a natural insecticide for your lawn or garden. If you notice that the plant is outgrowing its pot, don’t panic. The plant doesn’t have to go outside. All you need to do is change the pot to a larger one, as far as the plant still fits into the home.
15 Plants That Keep Mosquitoes Away
1. Lemongrass
Lemongrass contains a very high amount of citral, and citral is an oil that is used in common mosquito repellent. It is also known as lemon verbena, and it is an ornamental plant that tastes great in soups and dishes. However, it is scientifically proven that lemongrass causes congenital disabilities in pregnant women and new mothers.
2. Bee Balm
Bee Balm is also known as the wild bergamot or the horsemint. It repels mosquitoes but brings pollinating insects like bees and butterflies to your garden. If you are a honey farmer, this plant is the best option for you. It is also used in making tea, jellies, and garnishes for salads and other dishes.
3. Catnip
Catnip contains nepetalactone. Nepetalactone attracts felines but repels mosquitoes strongly. It is more potent than most mosquito repellent chemicals and is usually regarded as one of the best plants for mosquito repellent. The only catch is that cats like to rub and roll around on it. Ensure that you place it in an area that is friendly to cats. Another point to note is that the catnip plant is invasive. It is easy to care for but can invade your garden bed before you know it.
4. Floss Flower
Floss Flower contains coumarin; a chemical that is used in common mosquito repellents. It is a very beautiful plant, and it would be a nice collection to your garden. It comes in some colors such as pink, blue, white, and purple, and would make your home more aesthetic.
5. Basil
Basil is used for a lot of salads and to make the delicious pesto sauce. However, it has the capabilities to ward off mosquitoes. It emits a scent on its own without having you to crush the leaves or prepare it in any way. It is very toxic to the larvae of mosquitoes, so putting it near standing water would deter mosquitoes from laying eggs there.
6. Garlic
Garlic has a pungent smell that even mosquitoes detest it. Consuming garlic is one way of mildly repelling mosquitoes, but rubbing it on your skin is more effective than eating it. Just bear in mind that either you chew it or run it on your body you might also repel other people in the process.
7. Citronella
Citronella is one of the common constituents of mosquito repellents and candles. It can hide the scent of carbon dioxide from the mosquitoes. It can survive outside but is mostly found in a planter. It does not require much for maintenance and does all the work for you once you plant it. However, there are variations in the name of the plant, and the common ones are citronella grass and citrosum.
8. Lavender
Lavender is known to calm the mind, but most people didn’t know that it also repels mosquitoes. It is a wonderful ingredient to tea and is used in a lot of tea products. However, it can repel mosquitoes and other flying pests. Before you buy any lavender plant, ensure that it can grow on the soil in your home and survive the climate conditions too. There are many variants that you can choose from.
9. Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm is known as a ‘de-stress’ agent. It is used to relieve stress, stomach trouble among others due to its medicinal properties. It tastes great in soups and some dishes, and it wards off Planting it in your garden should be done in segregation, or else it would take over your garden.
10. Marigold
Marigold is a common garden plant. It has annual flowers that have a very strong fragrance and tastes great in salads, soups, and herb butter. This is due to its light and citrus taste. On the other hand, it also contains pyrethrum. Pyrethrum is a compound found in many insect repellents. It is usually referred to as “nature’s repellent.”
11. Peppermint
Peppermint is a very invasive plant that can take over your entire garden if not monitored properly. However, it is not as invasive as any of the plants mentioned above. It can repel mosquitoes and also relieve the discomfort of mosquito bites that are very itchy.
12. Rosemary
The rosemary plant is used as a seasoning for a lot of dishes, and it helps to reduce the number of insects in your garden. You can also throw some into a fire to produce an aromatic scent that is still potent in repelling mosquitoes, but you would have to stay close to the smoke. The rosemary oil is also beneficial to the hair and skin.
13. Sage
Sage is used for spiritual cleansing in several cultures all over the world. It is burned while used in certain rituals. The catch is, burning a sage is a great way to keep mosquitoes away. Just toss a few sage leaves into your fireplace or a fire pit in the backyard. The aroma is refreshing and repels mosquitoes as it fills your room.
14. Scented Geranium
Scented Geranium has a lemon scent, and it is powerful in keeping a lot of pests in your home or garden at bay. The plant has a beautiful bloom, and it comes in a lot of colors that makes it ideal for decorating your home or garden.
If you are battling a lot of mosquitoes, the geranium flowers will come in handy in repelling them. Another reason for the geranium’s mosquito repellent ability is the amount of citronella oil they contain.
15. Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal is known to repel mosquitoes, and can also other flying pests such as fleas and flies. One way to do this is by crushing its leaves and putting it in your pocket. Once it is in your pocket, you are safe from attacks by mosquitoes. Bear in mind that the pennyroyal leaves are toxic to pregnant women and infants.
Keeping mosquitoes away is not as strenuous as it sounds. However, you have to take some necessary steps to ensure that mosquitoes do not have any reason to be at your place.
Firstly ensure that all forms of stagnant water are cleared. Stagnant water is the major breeding ground for mosquitoes and many insects. If your sources of stagnant water can’t be eliminated; like a birdbath, you should try a regular replacement of the water. Displace the water in a place that would not lead to breeding. Sandy grounds would be a good place to displace waste water if you have a poor drainage system.
Conclusion
Now that we have discussed on a lot of plants that keep mosquitoes away, you won’t have to spend any more money on unnecessary chemical repellents that pollute the home. Plants are just as effective as the chemical repellents, and most chemical repellents contain constituents from these plants. You should consider the beautiful and ornamental repellent plants if you do not like putting random plants in your home.
